Sagan strikes gold for third time in thrilling finish to world road race
● Historic hat-trick for Slovakian as he pips Kristoff in sprint, while British rider Swift takes surprise fifth place in Bergen
Peter Sagan won his third world title in a row in a dramatic finish to the men’s road race at the World Championships in Norway.
The Slovakian had barely featured among the lead riders throughout the 267.5-kilometre race in Bergen.
He was classified 80th approaching the final climb up Salmon Hill, but timed his ride to perfection.
Sagan held off Norwegian Alexander Kristoff in a sprint finish to become the first man to win three consecutive world crowns, having previously claimed the title in Virginia, USA, in 2015 and Doha, Qatar, last year.
Only four other riders – Alfredo Binda of Italy, Belgians Rik van Steenbergen and Eddy Merckx, and Spaniard Oscar Freire – have won the world title three times.
Frenchman Tony Gallopin had attempted to break clear 13km from home in Bergen yesterday, but he was swallowed up at the foot of Salmon Hill.
At the same time a crash accounted for several riders, before Italian Gianni Moscon and France’s Julian Alaphilippe used the final climb to steal a march on the peloton.
With 4.3km left Alaphilippe made what appeared to be a decisive burst, but he was eventually chased down.
Sagan and Kristoff forced themselves to the head of the pack and crossed the finish line together with the 27-year-old winning by a hair’s breadth.
“It was not easy, guys were changing in the front all the time,” Sagan told the BBC. “I tried to go with the breakaway and it came down to a sprint, it was unbelievable. Kristoff was racing at home so I’m sorry, but of course I’m happy to win. [Three in a row] is something special for sure. For me it’s something very nice.”
Australian Michael Matthews took third place with Italian Matteo Trentin fourth and a surprise fifth place for Britain’s Ben Swift.
The 29-year-old from Rotherham said: “I’m happy [with fifth] but you always want more, I was close on the finish there.
“Sagan was incredible, I think all of us were trying a couple of moves because it was all over the place, but he did amazing.
“The team was brilliant today, we set out what we wanted to do and everyone rode brilliantly.”